The Wildcats won all three of their games at their own Joseph City Baseball Invitational tournament, defeating Holbrook in the championship game on Saturday.
They opened the three-day tournament on Thursday, with a 5-0 win over Ganado. Friday’s game was a 12-2 decision over Duncan in the semi-final round of the eight-team bracket. Joseph City scored five in the first inning and was never really threatened the rest of the way.
Zane Johnson went 1 for 3; Bannon Johnstun was 2 for 3, with a triple; Kelton Chairez was 1 for 1; Brent Bush went 2 for 3, with a triple; Owen Beatty went 1 for 4; Jareon Miller was 1 for 2; and Brody Penrod went 2 for 3.
Penrod pitched four innings, giving up two runs on three hits with six strikeouts and walked two. Johnstun worked one inning with one walk and one strikeout.
In the championship game against Holbrook, the Wildcats jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Holbrook chipped away at the lead eventually tying the score at 3-3 in the top of the fifth. The Wildcats then added three to their total in the bottom of the fifth, taking a 6-3 lead. Holbrook rallied with four runs in the top of the seventh to lead 7-6. But the Wildcats managed two runs in the bottom of the seventh to win the game between neighbors 8-7.
Johnson went 2 for 3 at the plan, with a double; Jeffrey Howerton went 2 for 2; Beatty went 1 for 3, with a triple; Miller was 1 for 3, as was Blake Palmer.
Bannon Johnstun worked 6.2 innings on the hill, giving up six runs on five hits with one walk and eight strikeouts. Chairez pitched the final third of an inning giving up one run on two hits.
The Wildcats will return to the diamond on March 22 when they travel to face the Vikings in Williams. Two days later they will host Fredonia in a doubleheader.
Joseph City is currently 4-2 on the season.
